| How To Avoid Unwanted Barbecues |
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By Brian Pawlak - Dirt Devils' Safety Dude Have you ever walked past a vehicle on the trail and smelled gasoline? A slight smell may be normal on a carbureted engine, but if you smell gasoline there is usually a leak and a potential for fire. My Cherokee had a small leak that evaporated before it would drip, and only with a full tank. I replaced both rubber fuel lines at the tank to find the $170 sending unit was still leaking. The factory epoxy seal had broken, so I fixed it using the epoxy from a $10 gas tank repair kit, (If you do this make sure the patch is recommended for gasoline and not holding pressure from a fuel pump). If I had to I would spend the $170 to fix a gas leak. It’s a small price to pay to keep from torching my vehicle. Keep that rational in mind when buying or maintaining your fire extinguisher. Most manufactures recommend weekly inspections. I usually inspect mine before a trail run, or after unloading the groceries.
Be sure to keep the powder in the extinguisher loose. It can become compacted in the bottom, especially when kept upright in a vehicle. I was replacing an extinguisher that was just below "good" on the gauge, and decided my wife Beth & I would empty it into a trash can for "training", (Yeah, right. It was going to be FUN!). We pulled the pin and squeezed the handle, anticipating a blast of messy powder!! Puff. That was it! I carefully unscrewed the valve assembly from the tank, allowing the 90 or so PSI to slowly escape. Upon disassembly I found the tube inside the extinguisher packed tight enough to hold the pressure inside the tank, making it useless. A screwdriver was all that could remove the compacted powder from inside the tube! That extinguisher was thrown away. I could have had it serviced, but it only cost $8 and was 6 years old. To prevent compacted powder, hold the extinguisher upside down and bang the tank with your fist, or on a tire. When the powder is loose you should feel it "floating" back and forth inside the tank when you turn it upside down and back right side up. The extinguisher should be mounted where it can be accessed quickly and easily. It should not be buried by camping gear or loose in the vehicle. It’s a good idea to write the purchase date on the tank with a felt pen. If its 6 or more years old, (past warranty), have it serviced or replace it. I love a good barbecue. I just don’t like when the menu is Jeep, Ford, Chevy, or Toyota!! Be Safe! See you on the trail. |
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